Thailand has one of the worst fatality rates in the world. In February, at least 13 school children died when their bus collided with a lorry on trip to the seaside south of Bangkok. In late December, 29 people died when a bus headed from Bangkok to Chiang Rai plunged over the side of a ravine.

Serious accidents like these are almost a monthly occurrence in Thailand, with sharp spikes in fatalities around the December and April holidays. Motorbike accidents are the most common cause of fatalities.